NBA Update

Well, I ended up having to post more quickly on the NBA playoffs than I had anticipated, because the Lakers lost their first two games -- at home -- against the Mavericks. In Game 1, Dallas came from behind to stun the Lakers 96-94. And in Game 2, Dallas cruised to a surprisingly easy 93-81 win. These are simply shocking results, and they set up two huge games in Dallas on Friday and Saturday. The Lakers, who have won the Western Conference three years in a row, pretty much have to win on Friday night -- they do not want to be down 3-0 -- and they will go all out to win on Sunday as well. As for Dallas, they have their best chance to win the Western Conference since 2006, when they reached the finals before losing to Miami. Plus, the Lakers will have to play Game 3 without Ron Artest, who was suspended for hitting a guy in the face at the end of Game 2. Plus, this could be the end of Phil Jackson's career -- and it could be the end of Kobe's best chance to equal Michael Jordan's six titles (Kobe has five). So those games are worth watching.

You might also want to check out Saturday's game between the Celtics and the Heat. The Bostons have won the Eastern Conference two out of the last three years, and they were considered a major test for the sometimes-immature Heat. But LeBron and Co. made the Celtics look old and washed up -- which they may be -- winning the first two games by scores of 99-90 and 102-91. To have any chance of winning the series, Boston pretty much has to win its next two games at home. The Heat only need one of the two games in Boston, so they may blow off Game 3 and then go all out to win Game 4. But at least one of those two games will be really good.

Current status (teams with a chance to win the title in bold):

EAST
Bulls 1 - 1 Hawks
Heat 2 - 0 Celtics

WEST
Lakers 0 - 2 Mavericks
Thunder 1 - 1 Grizzlies

For the record, I would be thrilled if the Hawks, Mavs, Thunder or Grizz actually did win the title.